Golf club cover

ABSTRACT

A golf club cover includes a head cover for receiving the head of a golf club and a shaft cover below the head cover for receiving a portion of the shaft of the golf club, and a neck portion that connects the head cover to the shaft cover. An opening for the golf club head is provided on the front face of the neck portion. A longitudinal resilient slit for the golf club shaft is provided on the front face of the shaft cover. A guidance section adapted to guide the portion of the golf club shaft into the shaft cover is provided at the upper portion of the shaft cover on both sides of the slit. A resilient framework with variable opening slit sizes is disposed within the wall of the shaft cover. The framework may be made of a sheet or a frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of sports equipment, and more particularly, to a golf club cover.

2. Description of the Related Art

In order to protect golf clubs, head covers made of cloth or fabric are most often used presently. Such a cover includes a head cover for receiving the head of the golf club and a shaft cover for receiving a portion of the shaft of the golf club near the head, the head cover and the shaft cover being integrally connected. An elongated longitudinal opening is provided on the shaft cover, and a zipper or Velcro(TM) fastener which can be opened and closed is provided on both sides of the opening.

When these existing golf club covers are used to store the golf club, the user needs to undo the zipper or Velcro fastener of the shaft cover, place the golf club head into the head cover through the opening of the shaft cover, and then close the zipper or Velcro fastener. When fetching the golf club for use, the user still needs to unzip the zipper or Velcro fastener of the shaft cover, and remove the golf club from the golf club cover through the opening of the shaft cover. This operation is complicated and inconvenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved golf club cover adapted for storing and fetching the golf club conveniently, so as to overcome the shortcomings of the conventional golf club cover described hereinabove.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a golf club cover is provided which includes a head cover for receiving a head of a golf club, a shaft cover below the head cover for receiving a portion of a shaft of the golf club near the head, and a neck portion that connects the head cover and the shaft cover. The front face of the neck portion has an opening for the golf club head to enter and exit the head cover. The front face of the shaft cover has a longitudinal resilient slit for the golf club shaft to enter and exit the shaft cover. The orientation of the slit is the same as the orientation of the opening.

When storing the golf club, the golf club head is first placed into the head cover though the opening of the neck portion, and a slight pressure is applied between the shaft cover and the golf club shaft, so that the golf club shaft is pressed into the shaft cover through the resilient slit at one side of the shaft cover. When fetching the golf club for use, a slight pressure is applied to the golf club shaft in the direction of the resilient slit, so that the club shaft can slip out of the shaft cover. Both operations as described are convenient and easy to use.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a guidance section adapted to place the golf club shaft into the shaft cover is provided at the upper portion of the shaft cover on both sides of the resilient slit, which makes it easier to press the golf club shaft into the shaft cover through the slit.

The guidance section can be formed as flanges extending from both sides of the resilient slit to the opening of the neck portion, which take the shape of outward splay. The golf club shaft can enter the shaft cover by opening the resilient slit easily through the open angle of the flanges.

The guidance section can also be made as a gradually widened slit above the resilient slit of the shaft cover corresponding to the opening of the neck portion, which forms the open angle. Therefore, the resistance of opening the resilient slit through the open angle of the gradually widened slit by the golf club shaft is small.

A resilient framework with variable opening slit sizes is disposed within the wall of the shaft cover, which enables the opening slit of the shaft cover to remain resilient. Soft and smooth materials such as cloth or other fabrics are wrapped around the framework, so as to reduce friction to the golf club shaft.

The resilient framework may be made of a metal sheet structure or a wire frame structure, or a plastic sheet structure or a plastic frame structure. The section of the resilient framework of sheet structure takes an annular shape with slits. The resilient framework may also be designed as a structure formed by several pieces joined together. In particular, these pieces may be joined together depending on different demands to suit golf club covers of different lengths.

A hinge is disposed within the wall of the neck portion, so that the head cover can pivot upwards and downwards with respect to the shaft cover to vary the size of the opening of the neck portion. When storing the golf club, the user can raise the head cover slightly to increase the opening size suitably, so as to make is easy for the golf club head to enter the head cover.

Both sides of the opening of the neck portion connected with the side walls of the head cover and the shaft cover may be made of an elastic material, which facilitates the opening and closing of the resilient slit of the shaft cover and the pivoting of the head cover with respect to the shaft cover. Furthermore, the opening of the neck portion is preferably as small as possible to prevent dusts and aqueous vapor from entering the cover.

Compared with existing golf club covers, the present invention provides the following advantages:

-   1. It makes the process of storing and fetching the golf club simple     and convenient; and -   2. The framework within the golf club cover wall protects the golf     club from impact from external forces.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood by referring to the drawings, which are for illustration only, and thus are not limiting of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional golf club cover;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a golf club cover according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken from the line C-C of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view showing the state during use before the golf club is placed into the golf club cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5( a) is a view showing the state during use after the golf club is placed into the golf club cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5( b) and 5(c) are cross-sectional views illustrating the golf club cover along the lines D-D and E-E of FIG. 5( a) after the club is placed into the cover.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a framework structure of the golf club cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a golf club cover according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side view of a framework structure of the golf club cover according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a framework structure of a golf club cover according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a framework of a golf club cover structure according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional golf club cover. The club cover is made of a fabric, and includes a head cover 1 for receiving the head of the golf club and a shaft cover 2 for receiving a portion of the shaft of the golf club near the head, where the head cover 1 and the shaft cover 2 are integrally connected. An elongated longitudinal opening is provided on the shaft cover 2, and a zipper 4 is provided to close the opening. When storing the golf club, the user needs to unzip the zipper 4, and place the golf club head into the head cover 1 through the longitudinal opening of the shaft cover 2. When fetching the golf club for use, the user again needs to unzip the zipper 4, and remove the golf club from the golf club cover through the opening of the shaft cover 2. This operation is cumbersome and inconvenient for the user.

FIG. 2 shows a golf club cover according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The golf club cover includes a head cover 1 for receiving the head of the golf club and a shaft cover 2 for receiving a portion of the shaft of the golf club near the head, the shaft cover being located below the head cover 1. The head cover 1 is connected to the shaft cover 2 through a neck portion 3. An opening 31 for the golf club head to enter and exit the cover is positioned on the front face of the neck portion 3, and a resilient slit 21 for the golf club shaft to enter and exit the cover is provided on the front face of the shaft cover 2. The orientation of the slit 21 of the shaft cover 2 is the same as that of the opening 31 of the neck portion 3. A guidance section 22 adapted for guiding the golf club shaft into the shaft cover 2 is provided at the upper portion of the shaft cover 2 on both sides of the slit 21. The guide section makes it more convenient for the golf club shaft to open the slit 21. In this embodiment, the guidance section 22 is formed as flanges 221 extending from both sides of the slit 21 of the shaft cover 2 to the opening 31 of the neck portion 3, which take a shape of outward splay, as shown in FIG. 3.

When storing the golf club, the user first puts the golf club head A (see FIG. 4) into the head cover 1 through the opening 31 of the neck portion 3, then uses the golf club shaft B to apply a slight pressure within the open angle of the outward splay of the flanges 221 and gradually enlarges the slit 21, and finally places the golf club shaft B into the shaft cover 2. FIG. 4 is a view showing the state during use before the golf club is placed into the golf club cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5( a) is a view showing the state during use after the golf club is placed into the golf club cover. FIGS. 5( b) and 5(c) are cross-sectional views illustrating the golf club shaft inside the cover. FIG. 5(b) also illustrates the shaft B before and after it is pushed into the cover 2, as well as the flange 221 when the slit 21 is closed (solid lines with hatching) and when it is momentarily open (broken lines) when the shaft B is being pushed into the cover.

A resilient framework 20 with variable opening slit sizes is disposed within the wall of the shaft cover 2 of the golf club cover in accordance with the present invention. Soft and smooth materials such as cloth or other fabrics are wrapped around the framework so as to reduce friction to the golf club shaft. The head cover 1 and shaft cover 2 of the golf club cover in this embodiment are formed by the framework 20 and a fabric wrapped around the framework. The fabric includes an outer layer fabric and an inner layer fabric made of soft materials. A mounting port for the framework 20 is disposed at the outer layer fabric at the back of the shaft cover 2, on which a zipper is provided. FIG. 6 shows the structure of the framework 20, which is formed of bent wires welded together. In order to stabilize the structure of the framework 20 and maintain spring tension on both sides of the slit 21, a transverse connection piece 26 is fixed on the back of the framework 20.

FIG. 7 shows a golf club cover according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The difference between this embodiment and the first one lies in that the guidance section 22 provided above the slit 21 of the shaft cover 2 is formed of a gradually widened slit 222 corresponding to the opening 31 of the neck portion 3, which forms an open angle.

When storing the golf club, the user first puts the golf club head A into the head cover 1, then presses the golf club shaft B into the shaft cover 2 through the open angle of the gradually widened slit 222 and gradually enlarges the slit 21, and finally places the golf club shaft B into the shaft cover 2.

A framework 20 is disposed within the wall of the golf club cover in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8. The framework 20 includes a head cover framework 27 and a shaft cover framework 28. These two frameworks are connected to each other by a hinge 32 inside the neck portion 3, so that the head cover framework 27 can pivot upwards and downwards with respect to the shaft cover framework 28, which will vary the size of the opening 31 of the neck portion 3. As shown in FIG. 7, an elastic material 24 is provided on both sides of the opening 31 of the neck portion 3. The elastic material 24 connects the side walls of the head cover 1 and the shaft cover 2. When the head cover 1 pivots backwards (upwards), the elastic material will generate a force to reposition it.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a framework structure of a golf club cover according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

The difference between this embodiment and the first one lies in that, the framework 20 is made of a resilient sheet plastic, and it is only disposed within the shaft cover. The framework 20 generally looks like a tube, with the diameter thereof gradually decreasing from top to bottom. The section of the framework 20 takes an annular shape. Moreover, the opening size of the resilient slit 21 may vary. Outward flanges 221 are positioned on both sides of the resilient slit 21. The golf club shaft B can be pressed into the shaft cover through the flanges 221, and at this time the golf club head A is suspended within the head cover above the framework 20.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a framework structure of a golf club cover according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

The difference between this embodiment and the first one lies in that, the framework 20 takes a short tube-like shape, and several short tubes may be combined. Coupling mechanisms for connecting these tubes are disposed on both ends of each tube. For example, if several annular grooves 32 are provided on the inner side at one end of the tube, several annular bosses 33 are provided on the outer side at the other end of the tube corresponding to the grooves 32. If desired, many short tube-like framework pieces 20 could be assembled by matching the bosses 33 with the grooves 32, so as to form combined frameworks of different lengths.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications and their equivalents are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A golf club cover, comprising: a head cover for receiving a head of a golf club; a shaft cover below the head cover for receiving a portion of a shaft of the golf club near the head; and a neck portion connecting the head cover and the shaft cover, wherein the front face of the neck portion has an opening for the head of the golf club to enter and exit the head cover, and wherein the front face of the shaft cover has a longitudinal resilient slit for the portion of the shaft of the golf club to enter and exit the shaft cover, an orientation of the slit being the same as an orientation of the opening.
 2. The golf club cover as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a guidance section adapted for guiding the portion of the golf club shaft into the shaft cover provided at an upper portion of the shaft cover on both sides of the slit.
 3. The golf club cover as claimed in claim 2, wherein the guidance section comprises flanges extending from both sides of the slit of the shaft cover to the opening of the neck portion.
 4. The golf club cover as claimed in claim 2, wherein the guidance section comprises a gradually widening slit above the slit of the shaft cover corresponding to the opening of the neck portion.
 5. The golf club cover as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a resilient framework with variable opening slit sizes disposed within the shaft cover.
 6. The golf club cover as claimed in claim 5, wherein the resilient framework is made of a sheet structure or a frame structure.
 7. The golf club cover as claimed in claim 5, wherein the resilient framework is a structure made of a plurality of pieces joined together.
 8. The golf club cover as claimed in claim 5, wherein the resilient framework is made of plastic or metal material.
 9. The golf club cover as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a hinge disposed within a wall of the neck portion, so that the head cover is capable of pivoting upwards and downwards with respect to the shaft cover to vary the size of the opening of the neck portion.
 10. The golf club cover as claimed in claim 5, further comprising an elastic material on both sides of the opening of the neck portion which connects side walls of the head cover and the shaft cover. 